The really sad thing - Fixing this team wouldn't be that hard

Head coach. Lionel Hollins. In the NBA today, there's Poppovich. There's retired legends who probably aren't coming back. There are a half-a-dozen or so pretty good coaches. And then there's about 20 guys who don't make a difference or suck. Lionel Hollins is one of those half-dozen. He wants to coach here (for some reason!?). Players respect him. He's defensively oriented. He's already had small-market success. He's good enough. Just hire him.

Roster.
1) Trade Greg Monroe for a pick high enough to draft Marcus Smart.
2) Please, please, please finish the season poorly enough to keep our pick ~ draft Gary Harris.
3) Use the money you were going to use to resign Monroe to sign Rudy Gay.
4) Use the remaining money/MLE/LLE to sign a backup center, like Spencer Hawes.

...Monroe at the 4 was just as bad as Smith at the 3. Now everyone's in position and you've moved Monroe for not one, but two talented players (through the acquired draft pick and saved cap space). Rudy Gay's gonna draw a lot of ire from you posters. But look. He's a lot like Josh Smith. Is he a flawed player? Of course he is. Is he about the best NBA FA a city like Detroit could ever hope to sign? Of course he is. Look at what he's doing this year, and at what he's done for most of his career. The dude is a talented player. A borderline All-Star. A top-50 talent. He's young. He doesn't have any *major* problems. And he costs you nothing but cap space ~ ~ which certainly wouldn't have been spent on anyone any better anyways.

...I don't know how much you guys have watched Marcus Smart. But he is damned good. I'll let you read the draft bio for yourselves - Marcus Smart | NBADraft.net. To me, he is quite simply everything Rodney Stuckey could have been (with a different brain and heart).

...Then there's Gary Harris - Gary Harris | NBADraft.net. Simply put: A deadly outside shooter with the size and athleticism to survive in the NBA as a starting two-guard (to not be a defensive liability).

...So we've got a super high-tempo PG now. The emerging best two way big man in the league, who can also really run. A super talented two-way 4 who is incredible on the run. A super talented three who fills it up and runs a little as well. A knock down kick-out two to spread the court out and keep the defense honest. Jennings with some instant offense off the bench (Smart can definitely play the two). KCP, we'll see what the hell he becomes. Singler gives you okay minutes. I really like Mitchell's potential to do the same (perhaps a little more). Spencer Hawes is an excellent backup center, all-around, who still has a lot of upside IMO.

Depending on what happens with LeBron, I think that's either the 2nd or 3rd best team in the East. And that's a good start.

No one is going to give up a top 8 pick from Moose
We will be bidding against ourselves for Rudy Gay who will go back to chuck city as soon as he comes here.
Spencer Hawes is no better than Jorts

Then there's Gary Harris - Gary Harris | NBADraft.net. Simply put: A deadly outside shooter with the size and athleticism to survive in the NBA as a starting two-guard (to not be a defensive liability).

Harris has to carry his team. Spot up shooters should never do that. Takes too many contested threes. His game translates to the NBA quite well as a secondary scoring option, though.

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I'm not saying Hawes is bad. I think he is a fine player. But we already have a 5 who likes to shoot 3's. He has looked good in limited time this year so I don't know why we would want to pay Hawes $5m a year more to do the same thing.

I'm not denying that Harris has had to shoulder a large offensive load, or that he has talent. But he isn't the 3 point bomber you make him up to be and certainly isn't our savior. KCP also had to shoulder a large load, shot a better 3pt %, and his numbers have not translated perfectly. The grass is always greener on the other side.

I'm not saying Hawes is bad. I think he is a fine player. But we already have a 5 who likes to shoot 3's. He has looked good in limited time this year so I don't know why we would want to pay Hawes $5m a year more to do the same thing.

I'm not denying that Harris has had to shoulder a large offensive load, or that he has talent. But he isn't the 3 point bomber you make him up to be and certainly isn't our savior. KCP also had to shoulder a large load, shot a better 3pt %, and his numbers have not translated perfectly. The grass is always greener on the other side.

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Who's the third best team in the SEC? It's a bad league..

Nothing wrong with having someone to push KCP, is there?

I never get too into the statistics (perhaps I should). When I see Harris take shots he should (the kind of looks he'll get as a 4th or 5th option in the league), he hits them more often than not. When I see him forcing, attempting to carry his team against great defenses that are focused on him, he misses.

I like his stroke. I like his release. I like how the ball soars. I like the kid. ?

..And Hawes is a dude I see with serious big man potential, inside out. Will he ever reach it? Probably not. But I like taking the flier. Seems like a good dude, too.

Same. We want to tank and get rid of Monroe who was a guy we got for sucking as well. I like the feeling I get after watching a W.

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Me too, I dont care if we finish 5 games under .500 and get swept in the 1st round. I want to see as many W's as I can get this season and make the playoffs. What's the point of tanking just to get another Caldwell Pope at #8.

Amazes me how the same teams tank every year and still suck every year - Its not a good model to follow. We got lucky with with Drummon,